Train-pipe coupling.



0. B. KENT & O. W WATERS.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1913. 1,1 12,144, Patented'Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. KENT & G. W. WATERS.

Patented, Sept. 29, 1914.

2 $HBETS-SHEET Z.

Z1526 Z {9/26 xm W 1 13 united by the mechanical couplers 3 carried by the respective draw-bars These mechanical couplers "may be of any of the ordi nary types, in common use, and constitute no part of the "present invention, except in: 'so far as their use assupports' for-the hoseline couplings is concerned; 7

Each hose linev couplingcomprises a metal body, head or spoon,5, one of which is attached, as hereinafter described, to each end of a car. Each body, head or spoon is provided with surfaces adapted for interimgagement with a coacting coupling when two coupling members are brought .longitudinally together -which' surfaces permit the coupling niem ers to move longitudinally into and outofcoupling engagement, while connecting them for vertical and latcral motions in unison and holding them from separation under such motions.

The engaging "surfaces ofcoacting couplers upon the adjoining ends of cars include vertical longitudinal-abutment faces 6, and opening through the saidface 6 of each conpler section 5 is a chamber or recess 7, within which chamber or recess is'arranged a laterally slidable junction or union block 8. The junction or union blocks of-connect'ed hose couplings are adapted for locking-thecouplings against longitudinal disconnection, ex-

cept when the mechanical couplings'3 sepa-' rate, as well as to form brid ing conductors for uniting the fluid line 'c'on uctors upon the adjacent cars, as hereinafterf ully described. Each coupling member 5 'is provided at its rear or inner end with a vertical slot or opening 9 engaging a retaining and fulcrum pin or like element-10 upon a su porting or suspenslon' frame 11, said slot being tapered or gradually widened in a"d1rection toward its forwardend whereby the head or member 5 is permitted to have free longitudinal sliding and as well as lateral swinging motions,- and to assume angular positions to compensate for andadapt'the coupler to the vertical, longitudinal and horizontal orlateral transverse movements of the cars when such cars-are in motion. A shank 12 is slidablythe mem er 5, which ball or head is retainedin position bva socket closing 'or retaining plate 15 suitably fastened to the head, whereby the head and shank are held united and are universally adjqined for. relative motions in all directions A 'colled -'sp'r1ng 16 engages the shank between the plate 15 and the rear end of the frame-and performs the sow eral functions hereinafter fully described.

In practice, the su porting or "suspension frames 11 of the fluld line couplings of cars are suitably secured tofthe draw-bars 4 of the mechanical couplers 3, so as to support the fluid-line couplers beneath such mechanical couplers and at a proper elevation 'above the track bed, whereby the fluid line connectors or couplers are adapted tomove freely and coi rdinately with the niccha'nical or junction block is provided with one or more ducts or passages for the flow of fluid therethrough. In the present instance We have shown each of said junction blocks or unions provided with three passages -18 19 and 20,- respectively, which may be employed for the assage of air for brake service, steam or hot water for heating or-other purposes, and air or other fluid for signaling service, which ducts or passages 'communi-' cate respectivelywith hose branches or termini 18', 19 and 20, adapted for engagementby ordinary gravity lock-joint coupling connections 21 with hose pipe sections 18, 19 and 20 connected with the air, steam and signal line-pipes 18 19" and 20 e2 (tend ing along the car. In the event that a car provided with the improved fluid line coupler is mechanically coupled to acar not so provided, the lockoint. couplings 21 permit of the disconnection of any of the hose termini froni'the hose pipe, and their direct locking connection with the lock-joint couplings of the hose termini upon the latternamed car, thus rendering the fluid line connections capable of service in conjunction with cars equlpped with the present invention or any equivalent fluid line coupling, or

with the fluid line couplings of cars of ordi-' fluid line couplers come into engagement, the

junction or union block upon either one of them may be moved outward laterally be-. yond the abutment face 6 of the'coupler 5 to which it is attached and into the recess or chamber 7 of the other coupler 5, thus forcing the coacting. union or junction block 8 in the latter-named coupling to recede into its chamber 7, whereby the first-named union or junction block bridges theabutment surfaces 6 of the twocouplers, thereby locking them againstlongitudinal'disconnection as fully-shown in Fig. 3, and at the same t me "bringing therespec'tiveducts or passages ofthe mating union or junction blocks into registration. The abutment faces 17 of the union "or junction blocks are counter-bored I to receive gaskets 23 of rubber or other suitable elastic material, to efi'ect the. production offluid-tight joints, and to adapt these gas.- kets to be at all times'brought into accurate register. The abutment faces ,17 of the coacting union or junction blocks may be provided with interenga'ging dowel pins or proje'ctions 24 and recesses or dowel'seats 25,

which are preferably tapered longitudinally in order to insure a positive guidlng contact between them and thebringing of the mating portions into accurate coincidence when the'union or junction blocks are moved into engaging relation. It will thus be understood that two cars may, be mechanically coupled, without coupling theflu'rd line connections, and that when the fluid line con-' nections are joined by the outward ad]11st-' ment' of one or the other of the union or junction blocks, the fluid line connections will be: brought into sealed registration,

while at the same-time the fluid line'couplers air-brake system, a valve 26 being shown as adapted to control a port 27 and carried by v the train line, thus cutting on the escape of will be looked as described against longitudinal separation. I

In order to provide for the automatic closing of the ducts or passages in the union or junction blocks-when the-fluid line couplings are-separated, and the opening of said ducts-For passages for intercommunication when the fluid line couplings of adjoining cars are brought together, each duct or' passage in each union or'junction block may be provided with" an automatic controlling a sliding stem 28. When-the coupling is not in use, the valve 26 is normally closed by the pressure of the fluid behind it, but the stems 28 are of such length and so arranged that when the union or junction blocks of two couplers are brought together thevalve stems within such blocks will .abut, causing the stems to slide inwardly and to move' the valves out of engagement with their seats, thus opening communicationbetween the registering ducts 18, for the flow of; the brake fluid from one" car to another. When the junction blocks are separated, the valves automatically close under the ."pressure in fluid.

The junction blocks are normally held retracted and out ofienga-ging position for the reason that III yard movements generally and in the hauling of, disabled cars it is undesirable that the gaskets at the coupling points should impinge upon oneianotbenit being preferable that a manual operation rather than automatic means be employed to finally lock the gaskets for the union of the coupling members preparatory tothe charg ing of the train line. For the purpose of adjusting each junction or union block 8 into andout of locking and engaging position, a setting, or adjusting and locking lever 29 is provided. This lever is fulcrum'ed upon the.

head 5, as} 21 4230, to swing in a direction lo'ngitudinally of the car in a desired are of motion, and said lever is provided at its outer end with a handle 31' and at itsinner end with curved or arcuate arms 32 (one or more) which extend through slots inthe outer face of the head 5 into the chamber 7 and loosely engage slots 33 in the adjoining face of the block 8', the free ends of sai arms being provided with pivot pins 34 slidably and pivotallyengaging slots 35in the.

block, whereby through prescribed forward and backward-movements of the lever, the block may be adjusted outwardly and inwardly transversely of the head 5, the slot and pin connections 34 and 35-permitting of v the desired angularity of motion between the lever and'junction block. The lever 29 normally extends outwardly parallel with the end'of the car with the handle 31 in position to be manipulated at the adjacent side ofthe car, thus avoiding the necessity of a trainiman' passing between the cars in the cow pling and uncoupling actions. The lever is longitudinally bored or chambered to receive a longitudinally sliding locking bolt, rod or pin 36, the outer end of which terminates in ahandle" 37 inclosed within the space bounded by the handle 31 and the inner end of which is adapted for engagement with openings 38' and 39 in .a keeper plate or member 40 to lock the lever'in retracted or thrown position.- A coiled-spring 36 is provided within the lever to normally project the bolt into locking position. The plate 40 is fitted within a recess in the outer side of the head 5 and is provided at its ends with slots 41, through which securing screws 42 pass and enter threadedopenings in the head 5,-th'e slots-41 permitting adjustment of the plate to vary the positions of the openings .38 and 39 to'enable'the adjustments of the lever 29 to be varied to adjust the block 8 to diflereiit degrees to compensate for any wear, due to long service, upon the gaskets or abutment faces of junction blocks in order that at all times'a perfect union between coacting junction blocks may be obtained.

A chain orlike flexible connection 43 passes around a guide pulley; or sheave 44 on the lever and is connected atone end to a bracket 45' on the locking bolt 36 and at its opposite end to the suspension. or supporting frame 11, whereby an automatic retraction of the lever and junction block may be eifected g when, coupled cars are -mechanically uiicoupled.

Xor nally the springltl holds the head 5 pro ected forwardly in position to engage a coat-ting head, and in such normal position the junction block is retracted and the rear 5 end wall of the opening 9 abuts against the fulc'rmn and retaining" pin 10 and the chain 4.3 hangs toa certain extent slack. In this position i e bolt 4L3 engages the opening 38 in the keeper. plate 40 and locks the lever in 10 retracted position againstcasual displacement. When two coupling members 5 come together, the said coupling members recede to a certain extent, as shown in Fig. 2, to

bolt engages the opening 39, whereby the junction or union block connected with said lever will be movedbeyond the abutment face 6 of the coupling to which said lever is attached and into the chamber or recess 7 of 'the other coupling member, thus bridging and locking said coupling members against longitudinal movement to any degree while at the same time adjusting said union block into engagement with the coacting union block to cause the gaskets to abut and connect the ducts in the union blocks for service, communication being automatically established in the manner previously described.

- The chain -13 connected with the thrown or adjusted lever 29 will thus become taut while the chain of the other lever remaining in normal position 1s slack, so that in the event of the separation of the mechanical couplings 3, a resulting pull upon the taut chain will ensue, thus retracting the locking pin of the thrown lever and moving said lever back to normal position, thereby retracting the projected union or junction block and breaking the fluid line connections while at the same time releasing the coupling heads 5 from dlsengagement to avoid liability of injury thereto. At all times while a pair of coupling members 5 are connected,'the sliding and pivotal connections between said coupling members and their suspension frames 11, their universal joint connections with the shanks 12 and the action of the springs. 16 will permit said coupling members to have a wide range or amplitude of .60 motion in all directions to conform to and compensate for the relative motions between t ends of the cars when the cars are in motion, whereby a perfect union at all times of the train line connections is maintained and liabilityof damage to the train line con-.65 plings obviated.

From the foregoing description, takenin' connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of our improved train line pipe or hose cou- 7o plingwill be readily understood, and it will be seen that a coupling of the character described is provided which eflectually performs the functions for which it is designed, and which is freely flexible under all running conditions of the cars, while adaptedto maintain perfect physical union, and which furthermore, is designed to admit of the instant release of connected couplings when the mechanical couplings become casually separated or otherwise mechanically separated or disabled in such a way as to break the physical connection between the cars. It will further be seen that the invenvtion provides a coupling which insures a tight connection between the gaskets, an adjustment of the union members to compensate for wear, and a reliable locking action to hold the fluid line couplings securely against disconnection while in service. The invention furthermore embodies the desira' ble advantage of permitting two cars to be mechanically coupled without atthe same time coupling the fluid line connections, a desideratum in shunting or switching cars in short hauls in'a yard or between tracks of a main line, thus avoiding wear and tear on the'gaskets. and other parts of the equipment whenthe cars are not to be coupled for running service or any considerable period of time and where the use of air brakesand other fluid lin'e connections are not necessary p or essential. Finally, the invention provides a simple, reliable and efiicient type of fluid line coupling, which may be applied to eX- isting cars without changes or modifications in the construction thereof, which will permit coupling of the fluid connections with a car unequipped with the invention and having theordinary fluid line couplers, and which permits of the ready replacement or repairs of parts when required.

It is of course obvious that suitable means I may be employed to render the looking as well. as the unlocking of the junction or union blocks automatic and that other changes falling within the scope of the appended claims may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

While it is primarily intended and deemed of advantage to adjust-the junction or union blocks manually for an interlocking and fluid coupling action, suitable means for controlling the lever 29 for anautomatic locking and releasing action may be employed to meet requirements'of this character. To this end, we may provide a link use to be swung backand held in a keeper racniber 4-9 on the lever 29, so that the rod may be coupled to the, lever for use ,or un- Nhen the rod is applied for use, thelever before specified, with the bolt 36 retracted the rod. may

a just in advance ofthe openingjS.

- between the rod to retract the latter, or the chain 43 may be backing said (gnipling member.

said .face and adjustable transversely in rod 46, jointed, at one end, as at 4:7, to the I side of the car, and adapted Whennot in 48. The opposite end of the rod is adapted for detachable connection with a fastening coupled therefrom, as occasion requires.

held,'when in retracted position, a little in advance of the retracted position hereinand it's locking-end arranged to impinge for .sliding motion on the keeper 40 at a point Hence when the (.()11')l8] is forced back the lever- 29 will be held stationary by the rod 46 and will accordingly be given. a relative forward movemenh'by which the block 8 will be projected. For an automatic releasing action be employed and relied upon to efi'ect a relative adjustment of the lever in an obvious manner as the coupler moves outwardly, in which event a suitable connection and bolt will be employed relied upon to :perform such functions, as will be readily understood.

Having'thus described our invention, what we claim is I y 1. In. a connector ofthe character de-- scribed, a coupling member having means torscoiiperative connection-with a coacting coupling member, said coupling member be-. in provided with a slot, :1 support carrying a iulcrum and retaining clement loosely engaging said slot, a'sliding element carried by said support, anniversal joint connection between said'coupling member and slidin element, and a cushioning spring associate with" said sliding element and yieldingly In a connector of the character described, a coupling member having a lateral abutment face, a union normally disposed within the plane of said abutment face and projectable and retractable in a plane transversely of the coupler, and a manually operable lever for adjusting said union.

In aconnector of the character. described, a coupler member having a lateral abutment face, a union having a'fluid duct and normally arranged within theplane of said face and projectable inwardly and out-- wardly relative to said plane, and manually operable lever for adjusting said union, and means for locking said lever in adjustableposition.

4. In a connector of the character de-. scribed, a coupler member having a lateral abutment face, a' union havinga fluid duct and normally arranged within the plane of phase of operation;

:and outwardly wa rdly and outwardly relative to such plane,

means for adjusting said union, and means for locking the adjusting means-in adjusted position.

'5. In a connector of the character des ribed, a coupler .memberhaving a lateral abutment face, a union havinga fluid duct and adjustable inwardly and outwardl transversely of the-coupling member witr relation to the plane ot-said face, a control- 7 ling device for adjusting said union, niepns for locking justed position, and means or releasing the locking means automatically ina determined 6. In a connector of the charactervdesaid contrclli 0 device in {id-'75 scribed, a coupler member having 'a lateral abutment face, a unionhaving fluid duct and movable inwardly .and outwardly trans- 'versely of the coupling member .with re- I lation to the plane of said face, a pivotnlly mJounted lever for adjusting said union,

means for locking said lever in adjusted position, and an elementconnected with the locking means for releasing the same and returning the lever and union tom tracted position in a determined phase ofOO operation. a,

7. In connector, oft-he character described, a coupler member having a lateral abutment face and a chamber or recess open.

ing therethrough, a union having a fluid 96" duct and positioned Within said recess, or chamber, said union being movable inwardly with relation to the plane of said abutment r'acepa lever for adjusting said union. a lockin device carried by the 100 level-tor locking the same in adjusted positions, and a controlling connection acting upon saidllocking device for retracting the lever and union under prescribed conditions.

I 8. A fluid l-inc coupler having a manually operable fluid conductor movably 'mounted I thereon, said element to engage a coactmg coupler.

9. AJfluid line coupler having fi locking element movably mounted thereon and forming a fluid conductor, and means for automatically'throwing thesame into and out of locking position.

10. A fluid'line coupler having a lockin I element movably mounted thereon an 115.

a fluid conductor,-a nd means for formin conductor forming a locking manual y or automatically moving the .same

into an outof locking position.

11. A fiuid line coupler adapted for physical engagement without interlocking 126 action with a coacting coupler, and manually operable fluid conducting means for in terlocking said couplers.

12. In a connector of the character described,- a coupling member adapted for physical engagement without locklng connection with a co-aoting couplin member, a combined fluid conducting and ocking dovice movably mounted thereon, and means mally held closed and-adapted when the said for manually projecting and retracting said elements of co-acting couplers are brought locking device. together to be opened for a fluid line 0011- 13. In a connector of the character denection. scribed, a coupling member adapted for 16. In a connector of the character dephysical engagement without locking conscribed, a coupling member having a lateral nection with a co-act'ing coupling member, abutment face, a fluid conducting and locka combined fluid conductor and locking ing element movable transversely of the cou member movably mounted thereon, manually pling member with relation to said abutoperable means for projecting and retractment face, a manually operable lever for ading said fluid conducting and locking n1emjusting said element in and out, a locking her, and means for setting said manually device carried by the lever for engagement operable means for an automatic action. with the coupler member to hold said lever 1%. In a connector of the character dein adjusted position, and means upon said scribed, a coupling member adapted for lever for manually controlling said locking physical engagement without looking condevice. nection with a co-acting coupling member, 17. In a connector of the character dea combined fluid conducting and locking elescribed, a coupler member having .a lateral ment movably mounted thereon, manually abutment face, a combined fluid conductor operable means for pro ecting and retractand locking element movable transversely ing said fluid conducting and locking eleofi'said member with relation to said abutment, and a locking means for locking said ment face,-a lever for adjusting said ele 0 n'ianually operable means in adjusted posiment, said lever having an operating handle, tion. v v a locking bolt on the lever for engagement 15. In a connector of the character dewith the .coupler member to lock the bolt in scribed, the combination of co-acting couadjusted position, and a handle for retractpling members having lateral abutment 'ing the bolt, said handle being disposed with faccsand adapted for physical engagement relation to the handle of the lever so that withoutinterlockingconnection,transversely the locking bolt may be retracted by the movable fluid conducting and locking elehand gripping the lever handle and the inents upon said coupling nien'ibers, means lever then adjusted. rmadjusting either of the said fluid con- In testimony whereof we allix our signaducting and locking elements for interlocktules in presence of two witnesses. i

lug engagement between the coupling mem- OTIS B. KENT. bers to hold them from longitudinal separa- CHARLES IV. IVATERS. tion and for bringing the fluid passages Witnesses:

thereof into registry, and valves upon said. C. C. HINEs,

fluid conducting and locking elements nor- Bnxnn'r'r II. Jonas.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

\ Washington, D. C. g 

